CNC Machine Phone stand

Steps:

This was our first project using the CNC machine. To create this, we followed these steps:

Find a simple silhouette of something you like online (I chose the silhouette from the poster of Karate Kid)
Import that image into Corel draw and make a bitmap so we have an outline only as a reference point.
Use that outline and sketch the figure on Fusion 360, using constraints to alter the image to the desired dimensions. For my project, this also included editing features and slightly changing the shape so the silhouette would work as a phone stand. For example in my project, I changed the position of the arms so there was no chance they would get in the way when I attempted to use the stand to prop up a phone, and made a few other changes based on what I thought would be the most aesthetically pleasing on the finished product.
To hold up the stand, add a tab protruding from the base of the image and design a small base to fit around this tab.
Export Design to Aspire 9.5 to convert the design into a toolpath the CNC machine can cut.

CAD File

This was designed, mostly using spline curves, in Fusion360 before being exported and concerted into an Aspire File for the shopbot.

Fusion File

Workflow

These are the steps we follow when cutting on the CNC machine.

(Scroll down to see the rest of the Steps)

To ensure we did not break the machine or hurt ourselves, we all went with a partner or small group.

Even with these instructions we ran into problems, and it took us a few days to print all our designs. One of the major issues was the size of our designs, because in my design, for example, the Shopbot bit was bigger than parts of the design and ended up cutting through pieces, as seen below.

Alpha Shopbot Workflow

Challenges

Iteration 1

The legs, head and neck were either crushed in the CNC machine or so thin they snapped off as I took it out.

Iteration 2

In this iteration I redesigned the legs neck and head so they would not snap off again. I also adjusted the torso and added new arms to make the overall design better.

Shopbot in Action

After performing an air cut and following all the steps above, we cut our phone stands out. Here is a video of the shopbot cutting a file out.

IMG_1936.MOV

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